Fluid operated jack



Jan. 21, 1941. MERGER FLUID OPERATED JACK Original Filed March 7, 1936 Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES FLUID OPERATED JACK Jean Mercier, Paris, France Original application March 7, 1936, Serial No.

67,716, now Patent No- 2,163,982, dated 111110 27,

1939. Divided and 1939, Serial No. 1935 this application April 15, 268,034. In France March 11,

nonimsi (01. 254-124) The present application is a division of my prior patent application Ser. No. 67,716, filed March 7, 1936, patented as Patent No. 2,163,982, June 27, 1939.

, The object of the present invention is to provide a fluid operated jack system for the control of a retractable landing gear for an aircraft of the type including two arms hinged to each other in such manner and adapted either to be brought in line with or to be folded so as to make any desired angle, at least equal to 90, with each other, this system being simpler than those used for the same purpose up to the present time.

According to an essential feature of the present invention, the fluid operated jack, made of two parts slidable with respect to each other, has one of said parts pivoted to one of said arms and the other part pivoted to the other arm, respectively.

Other features of the present invention will result from thefollowing detailed description of some specific embodiments thereof.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, given merely by way of example, and in which the only figure is a diagrammatic elevational view of a control system for a retractable landing gear made according to the invention.

In this figure, reference numerals 33 and 34 respectively show the two arms pivoted to each other at 35. In the known manner, one of these arms is connected to the body of the airplane, while the other is connected to the'wheel support of the landing gear. In this way, when these two arms are in the position shown by the drawing, that is to say in line with each other, the landing gear is in operative position, whereas,

when these two arms are folded with respect to each other, making an angle of at least 90 with each other, the landing gear is retracted, that is to say in inoperative position.

In the example shown by the drawing, the part 31, or body, of the jack is pivoted at 4| to arm 33, while the end of piston rod 36, which constitutes the other part of the jack is pivoted through a pin 39 in alongitudinal notch 42 provided in the lateral projection, or lug, 43, of branch 34.

It will be readily understood that, when said arms 33 and 34 are in line with each other (position shown in solid lines), the traction that can be effected by the jack in the direction indicated by arrow 15' has for its effect to bring arm 34 in the position shown in dotted lines. A movement "43 of arm 34.

of the jack in the opposite direction. indicated by arrow F, will serve to bring back the whole to the position shown in solid lines. At this time, a finger 38, rigid with 11111 39 andpiston rod 36, is in line with notch 40. Continuation of the movement in the direction of arrow F causes finger 38 to enter into notch 40, which ensures the locking of the system. In this movement, pin 39 moves in notch 42, provided in an extension tion, ajoin'ted bar made of two elements pivoted to each other, a jack for controlling the folding of said bar wholly supported by said bar. including two parts slidable with respect to each other, one of said parts of the jack being pivoted to one of said bar elements, and the other part of the Jack being pivoted to the other bar element, and means, carried by one of said parts of the jack, for locking said bar elements with respect to each other when they are located in line with each other.

2. In combination, a foldable strut made of two strut portions pivoted to each other about an. axis transverse to said strut and adapted to come in line with each other so that said strut is capable of supporting longitudinal axial stresses, and a jack made of two parts slidable with respect to each other and respectively pivoted to said strut portions for bringing them into and out of aligned position.

3. In combination, a foldable strut made of two strut portions pivoted to each other, about an axis transverse to said stru and adapted to come in line with each other so that said strut is capable of supporting longitudinal axial compression stresses, and a jack made of two parts slidable with respect to each other and respectively pivoted to said strut portions for bringing them into and outof aligned position.

10 in the above description, dis- 4. In combination, a foldable strut made oftwo strut portions pivoted to each other, about an axis transverse to said strut, and adapted to come in line with each other, said strut being adapted to support longitudinal axial compression stresses,

and a jack made of two parts slidable in each other and respectively pivotally connected to said strut portions, for bringing said strut portions into and out or line with each other.

5. In combination, a foldable strut made of two strut portions pivoted to each other, about an axis transverse to said strut, and adapted to come in line with each other, said strut being adapted to support longitudinal axial compression stresses, and a jack made of two parts slidable in each other and respectively pivotally connected to said strut portions, for bringing said strut portions into and out of line with each other, and means to lock the aligned strut portions with respect to one another.

6. In combination, a foidable strut made of two strut portions pivoted to each other, about an axis transverse to said strut, and adapted to come in line with each other, said strut being adapted to support longitudinal axial compression stresses, a jack made of two parts slidable in each other and respectively connected in apivoting manner to said strut portions, for bringing said strut portions into and out of line with each other, and means for automatically locking said strut portions with respect to each other upon their coming into line with each other.

7. In combination, a foldable strut made of two strut portions pivoted to. each other, about an axis transverse to said strut, and adapted to come in line with each other, said strut being adapted to support longitudinal axial compression stresses, 9. jack made of two parts slidable in each other and respectively pivotally connected to said strut portions. for bringing said strut portions into and out of line with each other, and means for locking said strut portions with respect to each other, operative by said jack at the end of the relative movement of the parts thereof that brings said strut portions into line with each other.

8. In a retractable landing gear for an airplane, adapted to connect the body of said airplane with wheels, the combination of a foldable strut made of two strut elements pivoted to each other about an axis transverse to said strut, and

adapted to come in line with each other, said strut being interposed between said body and one of said wheels, so as to support longitudinal axial stresses, and a jack made of two parts slidable in each other and respectively pivotally connected to said strut portions, for bringing said strut portions into and out of line with each other.

9. In a retractable landing gear for an airplane, adapted to. connect the body of said airplane with wheels, the combination 01' a foldable strut made of two strut portions pivoted to each other about an axis transverse to said strut, and adapted to come in line with each other, said strut being interposed between said body and one or said wheels, so as to support longitudinal axial compression stresses, a jack made 01 two parts slidable in each other and respectively plvotally connected to said strut portions, for bringing said strut portions into and out of line with each other, and means for locking said strut portions with respect to each other, operative by at least one of said jack parts at the end of the relative displacement thereoi that brings said strut portions into line with each other.

10. In combination, a foldable strut comprising two strut portions connected together end to end by a rule joint whereby when the strut portions are in alignment they are capable of supporting stresses applied along their longitudinal axis without breaking-Joint, and a jack made of two parts slidable with respect to each other and respectively pivoted to said strut portions for bringing them into and out of alignment.

11. In combination, a foldable strut made of two portions pivoted to each other end to end, the pivotal axis lying to one side of the longitudinal axis of the strut when the strut portions are in alignment, whereby the strut is capable by itself of supporting longitudinal axial stresses, and a jack located adjacent the pivoted sideof the strut and composed of two parts slidable with respect to each other and respectively pivoted to said strut portions for bringing them into and out of alignment.

JEAN MERCIER. 

